Explore 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi Modifications"

How to modify and upgrade the VAG 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi

"Comprehensive guide to performance parts and tuning the VAG 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi engine!"

Forums like the one at TorqueCars are frequently getting emails requesting info on how to improve the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi from people inquiring about getting more power from the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi and wanting to know what are the things tuners recommend when it comes to 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi upgrades. So let us look into VAG 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi parts and outline the best modifications on this great engine and point out some potential pitfalls along the way.

The VAG 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi are popular tuning projects and with the optimum performance upgrades like remaps, turbo kits and camshafts you will really enhance your driving enjoyment.

Car Tuning Tips will detail the best approach to 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi tuning and highlight the optimum modifications.

Just because particular parts are are common on 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi it doesn't mean you should fit it, we will focus on the optimum parts that will give your 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi the biggest power gain return for your cash.

Without us subscribing to the popular myth of 'if it's shiny and makes more noise it must be good' you seem to get in many tuning magazines and on car forums'.

Improving air intake on the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi

You need air and fuel for an engine to work. If there is too little fuel then it will run lean, if there is not enough air it runs rich sapping power . We'll pick up on fuelling later in this article but for now we shall look at air supply.

So the whole point to any engine performance tuning job to feed fuel and air into each cylinder but this has a knock on effect with the air flow sensor.

It is common that there is a limit in the air flow sensor AFM/MAP on the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi when loads more air is being fed into the engine.

We see 4 bar air sensors coping with quite large power gains, whereas the OEM air sensor sapped power at a much lower level.

Air Intake manifolds transmit the on the suck phase from the filter and allow it to be drawn into the engine and mixed with fuel.

The shape and flow characteristics of the Headers can make a substantial change to fuel delivery on the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi.

We often see intake headers are improved through aftermarket tuning parts, although some OEM provide reasonably good intake headers.

Adding a 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi larger valve kit, doing a bit of port matching and head flowing will also lift torque, & more importantly will permit an improved torque increase on other modifications.

2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi performance cam tips.

Different 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi engines respond better to more or less aggressive camshaft durations check your engine on a rolling road.

The engine timing and fuel pump and injectors also have a large bearing on the power gains you'll hit.

Extending exhaust or intake durations can alter the power band and on most engines the exhaust and intake durations do not need to match, although most cams and tuners use matched pairs there are some advantages to extending the intake or exhaust durations.

Significant air intake, and exhaust improvements on the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi can be made from cam upgrades. Changing the cam profile alters the intake and exhaust durations on the engine and can dramatically change the torque and power output.

NB: Fast road cams commonly raise the power through the rpm band, you could sacrifice a little low end torque but your top end will improve.

Competition cams, raise the top end band but as a result the car will not idle smoothly and low end power nearly always suffers.

In a daily driver you must carefully try to optimize your torque band to your usage of the car.

I would be surprised if you find a 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi Motorsport camshaft is a pleasure to live with when on the daily commute.

Stage 1, 2 and 3 mods for the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi

Before we break the best tuning upgrades down into stages of tune, let's list the most effective tuning upgrades for you.

1. Suspension Upgrades - always improve your cars handling
2. Brake Upgrades - Even before adding power improve those brakes
3. Intake - make sure the intake is not restricted, use filters and intake upgrades to improve this
4. Exhaust - as with 3 ensure there is not restriction in the exhaust, cats are the usual bottleneck
5. Tunes - remapping, piggyback ECU's and aftermarket ECU's can all make decent gains
6. Fuelling - when you've increased power you'll need to match this with more fuel
7. Turbo upgrades - Improving the intake with a large turbo and better flowing intercooler will be the biggest power gain you'll see (but one of the most complex).

This video guide to tuning cars is a great starting point to work from in your project.

Stage 1 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi parts:

Sports exhaust manifold, Panel air filters, Intake headers, Drilled & smoothed airbox, Fast road camshaft, Remaps/piggy back ECU.

Stage 2 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi parts:

Sports catalyst & performance exhaust, Ported and polished head, high flow fuel injectors, induction kit, fuel pump upgrades, Fast road cam.

Stage 3 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi parts:

Twin charging conversions, Adding or Upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger), Crank and Piston upgrades to alter compression, Internal engine upgrades (head flowing porting/bigger valves), Competition cam, Engine balancing & blueprinting.

A remap should help to unlock the full potential of all the mods you've done to your 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi.

You will typically expect to see gains of approximately 20-30% more power on turbocharged vehicles and you can expect to see around 15% on NASP engines, but your mileage usually rely on the mods you've done and the condition of your engine.

Turbo modifications on the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi

To get a turbo working on a NASP engine there is a lot involved, from lowering compression ratio to improved fuel supply and mapping, so we have found a great guide to helpavoid the common pitfalls or end up with an unfinished project because you were not told what you were getting into by doing this on the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi.

The more air you can get into an engine, the more fuel it can burn and uprating the induction with a turbocharger upgrade makes major power gains.

If your motor has forced induction mods are going to net you a larger power gain and we find turbocharged engines will have strengthened components.

However every engines will have power limits

Discover these restrictions and fit higher quality crank and pistons to survive the power.

We see many car owners spending a loads on turbo charger upgrades on the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi only to experience the whole thing literally blow up when it's been completed.

Large turbo units often experience a bottom end lag, and low capacity turbo units spool up more quickly but won't have the peak end power band gains.

Thankfully the world of turbos is always moving on and we are seeing variable vane turbos, where the vane angle is altered according to speed to lower lag and increase top end performance.

Twin scroll turbos divert the exhaust flow into two channels and flow these at differently angled vanes in the turbocharger. They also improve the scavenging effect of the engine.

Beefing up the air intake by adding a supercharger or additional turbo will help you achieve very large power gains, although harder to install. We have this feature on twinchargers if you want to read more.

Tips about fuel supply on the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi

You will need to ensure that the engine is not starved of fuel so will need to look at the fuelling when you start extending past 20% of a torque hike. Most tuners we speak with say to be generous with your injector capacity.

The accepted safe increase is to add another 15% when buying an injector, this takes into account injector deterioration and allows you some spare capacity should the engine require more fuel.

Don't forget that different fuel grades will usually require different settings, a high octane fuel will burn more efficiently than lower octane fuel for example. A car will trim fuel supply to keep within the ideal air fuel mix but at the extreme ends you may need to adjust your injector capacity, or the mapping or you'll get flat spots and potential lean or rich fuel issues..

Recommended 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi performance exhaust upgrades

You should look to increase your exhaust system with an upgraded one is if the existing exhaust is actually creating a restriction.

On most factory exhausts you'll see your flow rate is fine even on modest power gains, but on a serious tuning project with a big boost in power you will certainly need to get a better flowing exhaust.

Sports exhausts balance the flow of air through the engine.

But if your exhaust is too large, ie: over two and a half inches diameter, you will lose a great deal of your flow rate and end up sapping power and torque.

The usual suspects causing problems in your exhaust flow rate can be traced to the filters installed, so adding a better flowing high performance alternative will help avoid this restriction.

Decat pipes (NB:catalysts reduce harmful engine emissions) is illegal in most countries and regions.

Faults issues and things to look out for on the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi

Like most engines an 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi, should have few issues if it gets properly serviced and looked after.

We cannot stress enough the need for oil changes with the correct grade of oil on the 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi, failure to do this will exacerbate engine wear, on a tuned 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi this is more important than ever and close attention should be paid to your maintenance schedule.

If you are interested in learning more or getting impartial tuning advice for your 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi why not pop over to the forums at TorqueCars where you can chat about 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi tuning options and read about others projects who may be planning to do similar modifications on their 2.9TFSi, 3.0TFSi.

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This entry was posted under Makes and Models. Tags: engine, VAG
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